Casing for springs



' July 28, 1925.

T. J. DENNISON CASING FOR: SPRINGS' Filed Nov. 22 1921 James flan/u 'sanPatented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT O'FFICZE.

THOMASJAMES DENNISON, or MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR To LUBRI-GAITERS LIMITED, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC. CANADA.

CASING FOR SPRINGS.

Application filed November 22, 1921. Serial No. 517,049.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS JAMES DENNI- SON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and resident of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion ofCanada, have invented cer-. tain new and useful Improvements in Gasingsfor Springs, and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to casings employed to cover elliptical,semi-elliptical or quarterelliptical springs and enhance the lubricationthereof by confining the lubricating medium such as grease or oil aboutthe spring and exclude moisture, dirt, grit or other foreign mattertending to neutralize or COUII'EGL act the lubricant. The casingsreferred to are made in sheet form and wrapped around the spring, thelongitudinal edges of the sheet being secured together after applicationto form a tube-like enclosure surrounding the spring and are composed ofleather, canvas or other pliable material capable of conforming to thecurvature of the spring and of yielding to accommodate the movement ofthe latter in action, the material having the quality, especially whenimpregnated with the lubricant, of preventing the escape of the latter,excluding moisture or other foreign matter and in addition acting as areinforcing means for the spring. Consequently the effectiveness of thecasing depends to a considerable extent upon the security of the closureof its edges, and it is to this fastening that my invention particularlyappertains.

In so far as I am aware, previous constructions have depended upon astraight abutting joint between the edges of the casing, combined with atongue arrangement .but this construction is not calculated to securethe best results owing to the absence of a positive closure and to thelikelihood of a gaping joint developing under movement of the spring oraccidental loosening of the fastening means. It is an object thereforeof the invention to provide a novel closure featuring a positivelappingjoint, prefer ably, though not essentially combined with a tonguearrangement, whereby such a secure closure is obtained as tomini-mizethe likelihood of the joint gaping or becoming insecure to the detrimentof the casing as a whole. I

The above with further objects and advantages will be hereinafter morefully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Forfull comprehension, however, of my invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichthe reference characters indicate the same parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a casing madeaccording to my 'invention and applied to a quarter-elliptical laminatedspring, the latter with the .casing being turned to expose theunderside;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the casing, the turned margin being brokenaway near .one end;

Fig. 3 is an interior plan View of the casing in flat condition;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 44 Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating a reinforcedclosure;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified closure;and

Figs. 7 and 8 are further modifications of reinforced closures.

In the drawings 2 indicates in dotted lines a quarter-ellipticallaminated spring and 3 the surrounding casing composed of a sheet ofleather or suitable pliable material preferably with converginglongitudinal edges 4 as shown in Fig. 3 so that when wrapped around thespring the casing will taper cor respondingly to the latter.

' In fastening the casing in position the edges 4 are brought intooverlapped relation as distinguished from an abutting position, thelongitudinal side margins 5 and .6 respectively, being bent outwardly inthe form of an outwardly projecting seam with their adjacent surfaces infiat engagement one with the other. Fastening means are provided tosecurely hold the margins in their overlapped positions, preferably bylacing,

strapping or buckling such margins together. For this purpose eachmargin is formed with a longitudinally extending inner row ofperforations T correspondingly arranged so that in the applied positionof the casing these holes are in substantial registration, a lace 8being threaded through the registering holes longitudinally of thecasing, drawn tight to form a snug joint and anchored at its oppositeends in a suitable manner.

In order to avoid the presence of an uncovered joint I prefer to formthe holes of margin 6 a greater distance from its edge than is the casewith margin 5 and to turn such margin 6 inwardly at 9 to overlap margin5, thus forming a hem to cover the joint formed by the outwardly turnedmargins, the margins 5 and 6 and the turned over portion 9 of margin 6being fastened in their three-ply position preferably by a second orouter lacing. For this purpose the margin 5 is formed with an outerlongitudinally disposed row 10 of holes near its outer edge and themargin 6 with correspondingly arranged intermediate and outer rows ofholes 11 and 12 respectively, near its outer edge, the intermediate row11 being disposed in the outwardly turned portion of margin 6 and theouter row 12 in the inwardly turned portion 9 of the latter. In theclosed portion of the casing the three rows 10, 11 and 12 aresuperimposed in substantial registration and a lace 1O is threadedtherethrough longitudinally of the eas- The holes 7 are preferablystaggered with relation to the outer and intermediate holes so that withthe laces inserted the points of fastening are distributed along thejoint so as to thoroughly close the latter.

The relative positions of the joined margins 5 and 6 forming a seam, andthe inwardly turned portion 9 forming a hem, enable the laces 8 and 10to be applied in the manner of stitching as distinguished from theconventional criss-cross lacing and establishes a closure avoiding anuncovered joint such as exists in a closure with abutting edges.Furthermore the laces pass through from surface to surface and so avoidthe disposition of the laces between the adjacent surfaces of theoverlapped margins to the end that said adjacent surfaces are maintainedin flat intimate contact throughout the length of the casing. Inaddition the outwardly turned margins 5 and 6 of my improved arrangementform a V interiorly of the inner lace 8 and as shown in Fig. 4: therebyprovides for easy expansion of the casing at this point in the event ofextreme movement of the spring or for the accommodation of additionallaminae.

It is preferred to combine a tongue with the above describe-d closureand as shown a strip 13 of leather or other suitable pliable material issecured along one edge only to the interior of the casing longitudinallythereof, the opposite edge of the strip being free and the strip of anextent to extend over the joint when the casing is applied. As shownthis tongue constitutes an interior cover for the joint and combineswith the portion 9, constituting an exterior cover for the joint, inmost effectively closing the easing along its longitudinal edges. Asseen particularly from Figs. 4 and 5 it is intended to position theclosure of the casing beneath the spring to present a smoothwater-shedding surface above the latter.

To secure a snug engagement of the ends of the casing about the springand positively close such ends, strips l t of felt or similar materialare located at the ends of the sheet composing the casing, such stripsextending transversely between the rows of holes at the longitudinaledges of the sheet and being secured to the sheet preferably bystitching along their outer edges near the end edges of the sheet. Theinner edges of the felt strips are thereby free and capable ofeffectively adapting themselves to the transverse contour of the springto the end that a tight closure of the casing ends is secured. Inasmuchas these end strips are secured to the casing there is no necessity forpreliminary adjustment thereof, the stitching maintaining them inposition ready to be wrapped around the spring in common with thecasing.

It is desirable to provide confining means at the ends of the casing tobind the latter to the spring and prevent creeping or the working of thecasing along the length of the spring and while straps have heretoforebeen employed for this purpose I contemplate the provision of afastening which develops a more positive engagement between casing andspring than is secured by means of a strap, my improved end anchoringmeans consisting in forming each end of the casing sheet with a row 15of perforations arranged transversely of the sheet adjacent the end edgeand utilizing these perforations to thread the laces 8 and 10transversely around opposite ends of the casing, each lace beinganchored at 16 at one end to one end of the casin and having itsopposite end carried around the opposite end of the casing through theperforations 15 and suitably anchored at 17.

In the event of it being desired to provide a stronger closure forinstance for use in connection with an extra heavy spring. the abovedescribed construction may be provided with supplemental flaps l8 sewedalong one edge only to the exterior or interior of the casinglongitudinally thereof near edges as shown in Fig. 5 and having theirfree edges folded inwardly to overlap each other and cover theoverlapped margins 5 and 6. Theexterior flaps have two inner and twoouter longitudinally arranged rows of holes 19 disposed, when the flapsare folded as described, on opposite sides -'of the margins 5 and 6,such holes l9 being adapted to substantially register with theperforations 9, 10, 11 and 12 and to have the laces 8 and 10 threadedtherethrough in common with the holes of such margins 5 and 6.

As shown in Fig. 6 an effective overlapped closure may be secured bylapping one margin 20 of the casing over the other margin 21 in what maybe termed the circumferential line of the casing. In this constructionone lace only, indicated at 22, is utilized, the margin 21 having asingle row of holes 23 and the margin 20 a double row 24 and theopposite ends of the one lacing serving to bind the ends of the casingto the spring.

What I claim is as follows 1. A casing for a spring and comprising asheet of pliable material wrapped around the spring to cover the latterlongitudinally, one longitudinal margin of the sheet presenting twolongitudinally disposed rows of holes therein at different distancesfrom the edge and the other margin having three longitudinally disposedrows of holes at different distances from the edge, said margins beingbent outwardly in the form of an outwardly projecting seam with theiradjacent surfaces in flat engagement with each other, the holes of therows of one margin being in substantial registration respectively withthe holes of the inner and intermediate rows of the other margin and theposition of said margin with the third row of holes being turnedinwardly to extend over the edge of the other margin and overlap theexterior surface of the latter with the third row of holes insubstantial registration with the outer row of holes of said othermargin, a lace threaded through one set of registering holes andanchored at its ends and a second lace threaded through the other set ofregistering holes and anchored at its ends.

2. A casing for a spring and comprising a sheet of pliable materialwrapped around the spring to cover the latter longitudinally andpresenting a row of perforations along each end near the edge thereof,one longitudinal margin of the sheet presenting two longitudinallydisposed rows of holes therein at different distances from the edge andthe other margin having three longitudinally disposed rows of holes atdifferent distances from the edge, said margins being bent outwardly inthe form of an outwardly projecting seam with their adjacent surfaces inflat engagement with each other, the holes of the rows of one marginbeing in substantial registration respectively with being turnedinwardly to extend over the "edge of the other margin and overlap theexterior surface of the latter with the third row of holes insubstantial registration with the outer row of holes of said othermargin, a lace threaded through one set of registering holes and thesaid perforations at one end of the casing and anchored at its ends anda second lace threaded through the other set of registering holes andthe said perforations at the opposite end of the casingand anchored atits ends.

3. A casing for a spring and comprising a sheet of pliable materialwrapped around the spring to cover the latter longitudinally, onelongitudinal margin of the sheet presenting two longitudinally disposedrows of holes therein at different distances from the edge and the othermargin having three longitudinally disposed rows of holes at differentdistances from the edge, said margins being bent outwardly in the formof an outwardly projecting seam with their adj acent surfaces in flatengagement with each other, the holes of the rows of one margin being insubstantial registration respectively with the holes of the inner andintermediate rows of the other margin and the portion of said marginwith the third row of holes being turned inwardly to extend over theedge of the other margin and overlap the exterior surface of the latterwith the third row of holes in substantial registration with the outerrow of holes of said other margin, a flap secured at one edge to theexterior of the casing at one side thereof and extending over the lappedmargins and a second flap secured at one edge to the exterior of thecasing at the opposite side and extending over said first mentionedflap, such flaps each presenting four rows of holes in substantialregistration with the two sets'of registering holes of the margins, alace threaded through one set of registering holes and anchored at itsends and a second lace threaded through the other set of registeringholes and anchored at its ends.

4. In a device of the character described, the provision of a sheet ofpliable material having inner and outer longitudinally disposed rows ofholes adjacent one longitudinal edge and inner, outer and intermediatelongitudinally disposed rows of holes adjacent the opposite longitudinaledge, said holes being adapted to receive laces for fastening thelongitudinal margins of the sheet together in a predetermined mannerwhen the sheet is folded about a spring to provide a casing therefor.

5. In a device of the character described the provision of a sheet ofpliable material and said holes being adapted to receive laces forfastening together the longitudinal margins of the sheet in apredetermined manner to hold the sheet in casing formation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS JAMES DENNISON.

